16 firms submit proposals to build middle school

The school board, which rejected a plan to renovate and expand Warrenton Middle, hopes the new proposals will produce a plan that the county supervisors will support.

Two Aging Schools

> Taylor Middle

• Where: 350 E. Shirley Ave.

• Built: 1951, with addition in 1981.

• Enrollment: 443

• Capacity: 547

• Building: 93,000 square feet.

• Acres: 12

• Parking spaces: 58

> Warrenton Middle

• Where: 244 Waterloo St.

• Built: 1934, with addition in 1981.

• Enrollment: 417

• Capacity: 545

• Building: 94,000 square feet.

• Acres: 18

• Parking spaces: 103

By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)Staff Journalist

Sixteen companies have submitted proposals to build a new middle school in Warrenton.

Fauquier’s school system in January issued a request for proposals from architectural and engineering firms for an 800-student school, with the ability to expand to 950 students.

> Documents embedded below

The building would replace Taylor and Warrenton middle schools, built in 1951 and 1934, respectively. It would stand on the Taylor campus along West Shirley Avenue.

Without setting a budget for the project, the school board in November unanimously decided to seek new proposals. That decision came after months of failing to reach an agreement with the county supervisors for funding construction of a new school.

The submissions, due Wednesday, Feb. 28, remain confidential. A nine-member evaluation committee will examine the proposals, and county Procurement Manager Susan Monaco will rank them.

Ms. Monaco and the group will negotiate with the highest-ranked firms. Eventually, the school board will select a contractor.

The board has remained steadfast in its preference for new construction on the Taylor campus.

But, the board of supervisors, which controls funding, will have the final say. A year ago, the supervisors unanimously rejected proposals to build a 1,000-seat school for $55 million and then an 800-student version for $45 million.

The supervisors cited the costs of other county projects — including construction of a broadband network and new fire/rescue stations — in rejecting the school board’s proposals.

In September, the supervisors offered a $33-million plan to renovate and expand Warrenton Middle School, which would absorb most of Taylor’s student body.

The school board rejected that offer.

Working with consultants, a 40-member committee in December 2016 recommended the consolidation of Taylor and Warrenton middle schools. The school board last January agreed to pursue a 1,000-student school on Taylor’s campus.

But, the two elected boards met three times last year without reaching consensus on funding a plan to address the aging middle schools in Warrenton.

The school board hopes that a new proposal — possibly using a “prototype” or existing design — will produce a plan that wins the supervisors’ approval.